Easy opening envelope

ABSTRACT

The seal flap of an envelope has a portion reinforced by folding and adhesive connection, the reinforced portion being divided from the remainder of the seal flap by a line of tear perforations. A releaseable adhesive connection is made between the outside of said portion and the back of the envelope whereby said portion may be peeled across the back of the envelope to open same.

O UIlltGd States Patent 1 91 1 1 3,733,025 Hiersteiner [451 May 15, 1973 [54] EASY OPENING ENVELOPE 3,265,289 8/]966 Hiersteiner ..229/80 Inventor: Walter L Hiersteiner, Shawnee 2,157,898 5/1939 Hohwart ..229/80 Mission. Kans. P D E D M F N t rzmary xammer 0113 or On [73] Ass1gnee: Tenslon Envelope Corporation, Atmmey Fishbum Gold and Litman Kansas City, Mo.

[22] Filed: June 10, 1971 [57] ABSTRACT [21] Appl. No.: 151,691 The seal flap of an envelope has a portion reinforced by folding and adhesive connection, the reinforced 52 U.S. c1 .229/85 Portion bemg divided fmm remainder the Seal 51 Int. Cl ..B65d 27/115,13656 27/34 flap by a line of PerforatiOnS- A releaseable [58] Field of Search ..229/80, 81, 85 Sive Connection is made between the Outside Said portion and the back of the envelope whereby said [56] References Cited portion may be peeled across the back of the envelope to open same. UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,962,205 11/1960 McFarland .j. ..229/85 3 Clams 3 D'awmg F'gums 2,336,025 12/1943 Mendez ..229/85 PAIENIEW Elm I 3,733 .025

I NVE NTOR.

Wolfer L. Hiersreiner ATTORNEYS 1 EASY OPENING ENVELOPE This invention relates to envelopes which are easily opened after sealing and more particularly such envelopes which are of simple and inexpensive construction.

Conventional envelopes are difficult to open by hand without the assistance of a letter opener or the like. This has produced a demand for easy opening envelopes which has resulted in many variations thereof. However, heretofore, such easy opening envelopes have been complex, and therefore, expensive to pro duce and/or have been difficult to manipulate.

It is, therefore, the principal objects of the present invention to provide an easy opening envelope of relatively simple construction; to provide such an envelope which is simple to seal and open; to provide such an envelope arrangement which is easily understood by the user; to provide such an envelope construction which generally follows standard envelope design and, thus, is inexpensive to manufacture; and to provide such an envelope which is extremely well suited for its intended purpose.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein are set forth by way of illustration and example certain embodiments of this invention.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an open envelope em bodying this invention with portions shown peeled back to reveal the construction thereof.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the envelope in sealed condition and in the process of being opened.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of this invention associated with an end-opening envelope.

Referring to the drawings in more detail:

The reference numeral 1 generally indicates an envelope embodying this invention. The envelope 1 comprises a front panel 2 having upper edge 3, lower edge 4 and side edges 5 and 6 respectively. A back panel 7 substantially overlaps the front panel 2 and has an inside surface 8, an outside surface 9 and a lower edge 10 joined to the lower edge 4 of the front panel and forming therewith a fold. line 11.

Side flaps l2 and 13 are joined to the front panel side edges 5 and 6 forming side fold lines 14 and 15. The side flaps 12 and 13, in this example, are folded inwardly over the front panel 2 and are respectively at least partially overlapped by the back panel 7. Adhesive strips 16 secure the back panel 7 to the respective side flaps 12 and 13 defining a pocket 17 between the front panel 2 and the back panel 7 for receiving contents (not shown) in the usual manner.

A pocket closure flap 18 is joined to the front panel upper edge 3 along a fold line 19 and has a length, measured normally to the upper edge 3, sufficient to substantially overlap the back panel 7 when folded down on the fold line 19.

The closure flap 18 has first, second and third body portions respectively designated 20, 21 and 22 which extend longitudinally of the upper edge 3. The first body portion joins the front panel 2 along the upper edge 3 and a line of tear perforations 23 divides the first body portion 20 from the second body portion 21. The third body portion 22 is folded into overlapping relation with the second body portion 21 along a fold line 24 whereupon the third body portion 22 has a free edge 25 terminating adjacent the tear perforations 23, FIG. I.

An adhesive strip 26 is positioned between the firmly engages the second body portion 21 and third body portion 22 whereby the third body portion 22 displays an exposed surface 27 facing in the same direction as the back panel outside surface 9 when the closure flap 18 is in its extended (envelope open) condition, FIG. 1.

An adhesive strip 28 is applied over the exposed surface 27, said adhesive strip being of the releaseable type, noted below. A further adhesive strip 29 is applied to the back panel outside surface 9 in cooperative relation with the adhesive strip 28 whereupon the strips 28 and 29 overlap in contacting relation when the pocket closure flap 18 is folded down along the upper edge fold line 19. The adhesive strip 29 is preferably of a known type which will cooperate with the strip 28 to seal therewith upon the application of pressure but permits separation under force without substantial damage to the paper upon which the adhesive strips are applied. In the preferred form, the adhesive strips 28 and 29 are latex, however, other releaseable adhesives may be used for the strips 28 and 29, or any arrangement of materials, including a single strip, which will seal and subsequently release under force as indicated.

The respective adhesive strips 28 and 29 are operably spaced inwardly of the side extremities 30 of the third body portion 22, thereby forming a tab portion 31 available for grasping, FIG. 2. Further, the third body portion 22 extends laterally beyond the second body portion 21 so that the tab portion 31 includes an integral exposed projection at the side extremity 30 formed by the third body portion 22. This projection at 30 has a peripheral edge curved inwardly toward the beginning of the tear perforations 23, FIG. 1 (37 in FIG. 3). Also, the side extremities of the first body portion 21 and second body portion 22, in these examples, taper inwardly of the envelope toward the beginning of the tear perforations 23, best illustrated in FIG. 3, whereby an area of high stress is formed at this point which is put into a shear configuration by the side extremity 30 when the tab portion 31 is pulled, FIG. 2.

Through the above described construction, the second and third body portions 21 and 22 form a reinforced opening strip 32 which separates under force from the back panel 7 and along the tear perforations 23.

In use, the envelope contents (not shown) are inserted into the pocket 17 in the usual manner and the pocket closure flap 18 is folded down over the front panel upper edge 3. The opening strip 32 is then adhesively connected to the back panel 7, in the case of pressure sensitive latex, by merely applying pressure. When it is desired to open the envelope, the tab portion 31 is grasped and the opening strip 32 is peeled along itself as shown in FIG. 2, thereby separating the strip 32 from any connection to the remainder of the back panel and thus effectively providing access into the pocket 17.

A second embodiment of this invention is illustrated in FIG. 3 wherein the easy opening strip configuration is sued on an end-opening envelope. Thus, the envelope 33 is provided with an opening strip 34 which separated from the first body portion 35 of a pocket closure flap 36 along a line of tear perforations 37. In this embodiment, the back panel 38 is made up of overlapping top and bottom panels 39 and 40.

It is to be understood that while certain forms of this invention have been illustrated and described, it is not to be limited thereto except insofar as such limitations are included in the following claims.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. An envelope comprising:

a. a front panel having an upper edge, a back panel substantially overlapping said front panel and defining a pocket therebetween opening toward said upper edge,

b. a pocket closure flap joined to said panel upper edge and having a length normal to said upper edge sufficient to overlap said back panel when folded down, said closure flap including the integral first, second and third body portions extending longitudinally of said upper edge, said first body portion being adjacent said upper edge,

c. a tear line dividing said first body portion and second body portion, said third body portion being folded into overlapping relation to said second body portion and having a free edge adjacent said tear line and a side edge projecting laterally beyond said second body portion and directed toward the beginning of said tear line, said second and third body portions being secured together forming a tear strip, and

d. releaseable adhering means positioned between said tear strip and said back panel when said closure flap is folded down, said adhering means being operably spaced inwardly of said third body portion side edge.

2. The envelope as set forth in claim 1 wherein: Y

a. said third body portion side edge is curved inwardly toward the beginning of said tear line.

3. The envelope as set forth in claim 1 wherein:

a. said first body portion and said second body portion have side extremities tapering inwardly of the envelope toward the beginning of said tear line. 

1. An envelope comprising: a. a front panel having an upper edge, a back panel Substantially overlapping said front panel and defining a pocket therebetween opening toward said upper edge, b. a pocket closure flap joined to said panel upper edge and having a length normal to said upper edge sufficient to overlap said back panel when folded down, said closure flap including the integral first, second and third body portions extending longitudinally of said upper edge, said first body portion being adjacent said upper edge, c. a tear line dividing said first body portion and second body portion, said third body portion being folded into overlapping relation to said second body portion and having a free edge adjacent said tear line and a side edge projecting laterally beyond said second body portion and directed toward the beginning of said tear line, said second and third body portions being secured together forming a tear strip, and d. releaseable adhering means positioned between said tear strip and said back panel when said closure flap is folded down, said adhering means being operably spaced inwardly of said third body portion side edge.
 2. The envelope as set forth in claim 1 wherein: a. said third body portion side edge is curved inwardly toward the beginning of said tear line.
 3. The envelope as set forth in claim 1 wherein: a. said first body portion and said second body portion have side extremities tapering inwardly of the envelope toward the beginning of said tear line. 